Crawfish or Crayfish: Nutrition & Benefits

Crawfish may not always look appetizing, but it is actually a delicious and nutritious type of seafood to add to your diet!

What is Crawfish or Crayfish?

Crawfish, also known as crayfish, are small crustaceans, from a variety of families in the Arthropoda phylum, which looks similar to lobsters. They usually only grow to about 3-4 inches long, and nearly all live in freshwater environments. As crustaceans, they are considered shellfish by the food and fishing industries and are extremely good for your overall health. Many species are found exclusively in North America and are particularly abundant in Louisiana and Mississippi, where they feature heavily in the local cuisine.

Crawfish Nutrition

Although eating these shellfish for the first time can seem strange, they prove themselves to be nutritionally beneficial. They have a very high number of calories and are particularly rich in protein. They contain very little fat and no carbohydrates. Like all seafood, they contain omega-3 oils, which are essential for a healthy diet.

Benefits

The benefits of crayfish include healthier bones, reduced risk of heartdiseases, lower risk of Alzheimer’s, improved brain health. It also helps relieve depression.

Crawfish vs Lobster

Appearance: Lobsters and crawfish look very similar to a novice, with the exception of the size. Lobsters tend to be 8-24 inches long, while this shellfish is only 3-4 inches.

Taste: If prepared similarly, lobsters and crawfish taste very much the same.

Nutrition: Both lobster and crawfish are high in calories and protein, with little fat and carbs.

Uses in Cooking: Crawfish are often prepared in stews and spicy dishes, whereas lobsters are generally eaten with more mild ingredients, such as butter or lemon.

Word of Caution: These shellfish are high in cholesterol, and a serving size contains about 30% of the recommended daily intake, so people with high cholesterol should pay close attention to the inclusion of these shellfish in their diet.

John Staughton is a traveling writer, editor, publisher and photographer with English and Integrative Biology degrees from the University of Illinois in Champaign-Urbana (USA). He co-founded the literary journal, Sheriff Nottingham, and now serves as the Content Director for Stain’d Arts, a non-profit based in Denver, Colorado. On a perpetual journey towards the idea of home, he uses words to educate, inspire, uplift and evolve.

Login access is disabled

Share with

Sign In

Evidence Based

Our articles are evidence-based and contain scientific references, fact-checked by experts. We source information from studies, clinical trial findings, and meta-analyses published in peer-reviewed journals.

To increase transparency to the user, we provide reference links marked by numbers in parentheses in the copy of the article. The entire list of reference links is also provided at the bottom of the article.